Bookrest



H. s; CHASE July 3, 1951 BOOKREST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1948 INVENTOR HERBERT 5. CHAsE ATTO R N EY July 3 1951 H. s. CHASE 2,558,931

I BOOKREST Filed April 1, 194a 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR HERBERT S. CHASE BY Jag, m

ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,558,931 BooKREs'i Herbert S. Chase, Flushing, N. Y.

Application April 1, 1948, Serial No. 18,369

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in book rests and more particularly to a foldable book rest which may be readily carried about by the user.

An object of my invention is to provide a book rest which is readily portable in a collapsed condition but which may be extended to securely hold a book in position for reading.

A further object of my invention is to provide a portable book rest which may be substantially constructed from a single sheet of material.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a book rest which is also adapted to perform the function of a book carrier.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the foregoing statement of the objects of my invention is intended to generally explain the same without limiting it in any manner. I

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a book rest embodying my invention, the constituent panels thereof lying fiat. u n

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof with the constituent panels thereof lying flat.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the said book rest showing the parts assembled and revealing one side, the back and a portion of the top thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing the said book rest assembled and revealing the top and sides thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the said book rest folded about a book and in position for carrying.

Fig.5 is a fragmentary view in cross-section along the line 66 of Fig. 1 showingthe ledge.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown comprises a center panel 2 I, cover-rest panels 22 and 23 oppositely disposed adjacent to the longer margins of the center panel 2| and being inwardly foldable along the said longer margins of the said center panel, side panels 24 and 25 oppositely disposed along the outer margins of cover-rest panels 22 and 23 respectively and being outwardly foldable along the said margins at which they adjoin the said coverrest panels, and back panels 26 and 2! adjoining respectively the rearmost margins of side panels 24 and 25 and being foldable outwardly along the said margins.

The back panels 26 and 21 may contain closure means for holding one of thesaid panels to the other, the said closure-means in the embodiment shown comprising slots 28 in the back panel 26 and tabs 29 in the back panel 21, it being understood, of course, that any conventional or convenient closure means may be employed in lieu thereof. The said tabs are of such size that they may be made to slide through the said slots 28 and engage the same 'upon the assembly of the book rest (see Fig. 3). Side panels 24 and 25 may have thereon side pockets I0 and II respectively. Running substantially the length of the cover-rest panels 22 and 23, there may be mounted book-holder strips I2 and I3 respectively. Along the frontmost inner margins of the cover-rest panels 22 and 23, and the center panel 2I, there may be a ledge I4, which ledge may be comprised of rolled or multiple infolded extensions of the front margins of cover-rest panels 22 and 23 and center panel 2 I. The center panel 2I may have depending therefrom a ribbon-like book mark I5.

Along the bottom side of the center panel 2i there may be placed the binder strip I6. Between the said binder strip and the center panel there may be placed strap H, which strap has at the ends thereof closure means, the closure means in the form shown comprising the male buttons I8 and the female snap button I9. More than one male button is provided so that the strap may be adjustable in length when closed as shown in Fig. 5. Q

In order to assemble the book rest to the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 from the position shown in Fig. 1, it is first necessary to elevate the outer portions of the cover-rest panels 22 and 23, folding the said panels inwardly along the longer margins of center panel 2! and then fold the side panels 24 and 25 outwardly along theoutermost margins of the cover-rest panels 22 and 24 respectively, so that the outermost sides of the said side panels (the then bottom sides of said panels) rest upon the surface of the table or other surface upon which the book rest is to be placed. Then the back panels 26 and 21 are folded inwardly along the uppermost margins of the side panels 24 and 25 respectively until the tabs 29 of the back panel 2? are opposite the slots 28, at which position the uppermost sides (the then bottom sides) of the said back panels 26 and 2'Iwi1l rest upon the table or other surface upon which the book rest is to be placed. If their the said tabs are inserted through the said slots, it will be found that the bottom portion of the rearmost edge of center panel 2| will rest upon the outermost portions (ill and 3| of the inner edges of back panels 25 and 27 respectively,

and that the structure is locked into a substantially rigid condition.

A book may be placed directly upon the book rest in its assembled condition. In such case the ledge l4 prevents the book from slipping off the rest. Or if the book rest be used in the open air where winds may turn the pages, the book may be opened and the ends, including the opened pages, may he slipped under the book-holder strips I2 and I3.

When it is desired to use the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings as a book carrier, then while the book is in place in the book rest either over or under the book-holder strips l2 and !3, the back panels 26 and 21 are disengaged and each folded inwardly against the bottom sides of the side panels 24 and 25 respectively; and the outer portions of the cover-rest panels 22 and 23 are elevated so that such portions are brought to the great- .est proximity to each other which the thickness of the interposed book being carried will permit. 'In this position the side panels 24 and 25 depend from the outer margins of the coverrest panels 22 and 23 respectively and the pockets IQ and H are to the outside of the closed book rest as shown in Fig. 5. The strap i1 is then brought around cover-rest panel 22, side panel 24 and back panel 26, over the enclosed book and fastened by snapping the female snap button I9 to one of the male buttons I8. In this position the book rest and enclosed book may be readily carried about. It will be noted that in the positions of the book rest shown in Figs. 3 and 4 or in Fig. the pockets Hi and H are conveniently accessible. i

It is notable that with the exception of the strap [1, the binder strip 16 and the book mark I5, the entire book rest may be made of one piece. These excepted elements are not necessary to many forms which my invention may take. Although in the embodiment shown, this is not done, if desired the book-holder strips l2 and I3 may be formed by cutting the same out of the cover-rest panels 23 and 24 respectively. In the embodiment shown all surfaces have superimposed thereon a cover (see Fig. 6). However, it is self-evident that the article may be made omitting such cover since it is not at all essential to the book-holder.

It is self-evident that my invention may be employed without all of the features shown and described. Thus as has been already stated, a book may be placed over the book-holder strips 13. In such case the strips would not be needed. If it were no objection to permit the bottom edge of a book to rest on the table or other surface upon which the book rest is to be placed, then the ledge !4 could be omitted. Similarly, the book mark I 5 could be omitted. While the pockets Ill and II may be very useful to one using the embodiment shown as a book carrier for use on the beach or elsewhere out of doors, if an embodiment were made solely for use in the home such pockets might not be incorporated in such embodiment. In such case, the strap I1 and the binder strip l6 might not be used. Then, too, successful embodiments of my invention have been made which omit the closure means -(28 and 29) on the back panels, in which event the weight of the book placed on the top of center panel 2| presses it against the upper edges 38 and 3| of the back panels with sufficient force to retain the said panels in place.

It is to be emphasized that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein is but a preferred form. Although I have described my inventicn with a certain de ree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous additional changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without transcending the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 1

I claim as my invention:

1. A book rest comprising a substantially rectangular center panel, cover-rest panels adjacent eaoh longer margin of said center panel and foldable along such longer margins, tapered side panels adjacent each of the outer margins of said cover-rest panels and foldable along said outer margins, said side panels having outer edges slanted inwardly from the rearmost to the frontmost portions thereof, and tapered back panels adjacent the rearmost margins of said side panels and foldable along said rearmost margins, said back panels having substantially linear inner edges which slant outwardly from the broader frontmost to the narrower rearmost portions of said back panels, the slant angles of said outer edges of said side panels and of the said inner edges of said back panels .being so selected that upon outwardly folding each of said side and back panels to the position where said inner edges of said back panels are under and substantially parallel with the rearmost margins of said back-rest panels, the outer edges of said side and back panels and the frontmost edge of said center panel will lie in the same plane.

2. A book rest comprising a substantially rectangular center panel, cover-rest panels oppositely disposed and each adjacent the opposite longer margins of said center panel, said coverrest panels being adapted to be inwardly foldable, tapered side panels adjacent each of the outer margins of said cover-rest panels and being adapted to be outwardly folded along such outer margins, said side panels having outer edges slanted inwardly fro-m the rearmost to the frontmost 7 portions thereof, and tapered back panels adjacent the rearmost margins of said side panels and being adapted to be outwardly folded along such rearmost margins, said back panels having substantially linear inner edges which slant outwardly from the broader frontmost to the narrower rearmost portions of said back panels, the slant angles of saidouter edges of said side panels and of the said inner edges of said back panels being so selected that upon outwardly folding each of said side and back panels to the position where said inner edges of said back panels are under and substantially parallel with the rearmost margins of said back-rest panels, the. outer edges of said side and back panels and the frontmost edge of said center panel will lie in the same plane.

3. A book rest comprising a center panel, cover-rest panels adjacent each longer margin of said center panel and foldable along such longer margins, side panels adjacent each of the outer vent a book placed in said book rest from sliding therefrom, said ledge comprising a multiple infolded extension of said center panel.

4. A book rest comprising a center panel, cover-rest panels adjacent each longer margin of said center panel and foldable along such longer margins, side panels adjacent each of the outer margins of said cover-rest panels and foldable along said outer margins, back panels adjacent the rearmost margins of said side panels and foldable along such rearmost margins, and a ledge on said center and cover-rest panels situate on the top sides thereof but proximate the front edges thereof and substantially parallel thereto, said ledge beingadapted to prevent a book placed in said book rest from sliding therefrom, said ledge comprisinga multiple infolded extension of said center and cover-rest panels.

5. A book rest and carrier comprising a substantially rectangular center panel, cover-rest panels oppositely disposed and each adjacent the opposite longer margins of said center panel, said cover-rest panels being'adapted to be inwardly foldable, side panels adjacent the outer margins of said cover-rest panels and being adapted to be outwardly folded along such outer margins, back panels adjacent the rearmost margins of said side panels and being adapted to be outwardly folded along such rearmost margins, and a ledge on said center and coverrest panels situate on the top sides thereof but proximate the front edges thereof and substantially parallel to such edges, said ledge being adapted to prevent a book placed in said book rest from sliding therefrom, said ledge comprising a multiple infolded extension of said center and cover-rest panels.

6. A book rest as described in claim 1, the inner edges of said back panels being parallel to the outer edges thereof for the rearmost portion thereof equal in length to the width of said center panel, said rearmost portions of said outer edges underlying the rearmost edge of said center panel when the inner edges of said back panels REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 844,066 Warren Feb. 12, 1907 1,207,577 Loose Dec. 5, 1916 1,311,983 McClatchy Aug. 5, 1919 2,369,864 Spaldo Feb. 20, 1945 2,375,190 Botts May 8, 1945 

